Apparatus for dehydrating air



. A ril 14, 1942. H. J. KAUFMAN 2,279,326v

APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING AIR,

Filed Sept. 1:, 1939 B'Shee'cs-Sheet 1 a In BR 3n. l x a 1 1 .69. k i {Q} a" k I 121 3 an; mm: n q k mam a; i :1 W1

I l \1 I {OI J52! z; :3-

April14, 1942. H4. KAUFMAN 2,279,326-

- APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING AI-R' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 15, 1959 1 VINVENTOR.

and dehydrating capacities.

Patented Apr. 14, 1 942 .nrPARAT s FOB. DEHYDRATINGAIR HiramJoseph Kaufman, Detroit, Mich.

Application This invention relates to apparatus for dehydrating air; and particularly'to portable cabinets which use granulated calcium chloride as the absorbing agent. a

One of the objects of my invention is to-provide apparatus which iscomposed of demountable'and September 13, 1939, Serial No. 294,584 V 4 claims. (01. 183-4) cal spaces spaces 3| and 32; the tops of the said spaces-3|,

and-the bottoms of the said spaces 32;beingformedof'wire cloth or perforated metal: fI'he" I said partitions 34 are attached in pairs, ea'ch'pair interchangeable sections with variable'storage Another object of my invention is simple apparatus for drying out spaces whichare surrounded by'earth or water, and" which is not effected by freezing temperatures.

Another object of my invention-is to'provide cylindrical apparatus in demountable sections for getting through the minimum size "of manholes as found between the compartments in the lower holds of marine vessels, and-w in marine service with" the vertical axis tilted in any direction due to the movement of the vessel.

Referring to the drawings wherein the printo provide hich will operate ciples of the present invention are shown applied a to portable dehydrating. cabinets:

Fig. 1 is aside elevational view of the cabinet with its self-'containedunits assembled,

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cabinetsh'own'in' Fig. 1, I

Fig. 3 is a verticalcross sectioh of the cir-' culating fan unit of the assembly of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section or the container unit for the hygroscopic solid of the assembly. of Fig. '1,

Fig. 5'isia vertical tion of the assembly of Fig. 1. F 1,

Fig. 6 is'a vertical cross-section of the waste cross-section of the plate unit shown for handling the hygroscopic soludrator containing hygroscopic solution is com-' posed of the cylindrical shell 42, having the radiai air inlet openings 43 andthe horizontal hygro-;

solution receiver unit 01 theassembly'of Fig. 1,

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. ,1 of a cabinet' having a' unit of Fig. 4 of greater length.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken'just below the top of the container unit shown in Fig. 4, I

Fig. 9 is across-sectional view taken'slightly above the lower. end of the container unit'shown' Figs. 10 to 15, views of the plates making up the unit of 5, 1 Fig. 16 is across-sectional view of the unit of Fig. 5 taken Just above the lower plate,

inclusive, are progressive plan- Fig. 1'? is an enlargement of the plate struc- .ture shown in elevationin Fig. 5, and

Fig. 18 is a diagrammatic representation of a dehydrating cabinet and hydrometric device for measuring the density of the waste hygroscopic, solution to control relative humidity. 7

Referring specifically to Figures 4, 8 and 9;

the air dehydrator containing hygroscopic solid is composed of the cylindrical; shell 30, the alter-' nate vertical air passages 3 l, the alternate verti forming an air space and heldtbgether by the vertical'U-shaped members 35. Thef-said air space assemblies are separated from each other by the vertical L-shaped members 36. This construction-may be reversed-so that the-calcium chloride spaces. are assembled with the said 1 partitions 34 in pairs' with the U shaped meme bers 35, and these assemblies separated from each I other by-the L-shaped members 36-intheair. The said partitions 34 are supported on the perforated rack 3'l, which isattached tot-the i said shell30. Underneath the :said rack-.31 is a a conical shaped rim 38'having'a"watertightrcona nectionwith the said shell 30* and having, 951 notched drip edge at thebottom to' break up the hygroscopic solution. dripping fromthe said spaces 32'holdinggranulated calcium chloride 33,, into-small streams in 'order'to present more sur-- face of solution to the action ofxthe air. which j I "is drawn upwardly through the said air passages 7 3|, and to evenly. distribute the said solution over p the members below. The bands 40 and 4l are "attached to theoutside of the said shell. 30 in p order to' maintain the said shell 30 in proper-venspaces.

tical relation to the: members shown in Figures 3and 5. 1 1: 1 g

Referring to Figures 5 and 17; the air dehyscopic solution members as shown inFigures 10 to 15, inclusive, and which consist. of the ring plates 44, which are attached to the radial plates 45 to 50, inclusive, with radial openings between the'said plates 45 to 50, inclusive, and whichin V crease in area from bottom to" top with the said radial air openings alternately spaced over each other. m

Referring to Figure 16; the circulator plate 5|- is solid with a diameter slightly smaller than the waste solution tank-52 as'shown in Figure 6,-- to prevent the air from contacting and absorb! ing moisture irom the waste solutio'n; The said plates 45' to 5l,-inclusive; areheld'in vertical re? 1 latio'nto each' other by the bolts '53, the, nuts 54 and'- the ferrules 55,'= and' thewhole assembly is supported on the bars 5B,-which are attached to the said cylindrical shell 42. The airxisidrawn r into thefair dehydrator containing "hygroscopic solution through the said air inlet openings, between the said plates 45 to SI, inclusive. up?

32 for holding granulated calcium" chloride 33, the-partitions 34 between the said wires" and";

Referring to Figurea 18; :the tank -52 vhas the;

4 of each succeedingplateunderneath; 1

wardly between-and. over the; said plates 45 to 50;:

1 Referring to Figure 6; the waste-solution tank. 52 hasthe drain pipeiland'thecap 58 for drain-h ing away the waste solution: The saidtank 52 has the banditmttachednto vthe outsidenean the top in order toj's'upportthesaid ShB11 I218Ilfi the b and ill :attached vto the outside ;at the: bot- I tom to stifienithe lower' edge and to improve the appearance, ofthe tank. J V 7 r 7 Referring to Figure 3;"the grille 6] iis'cattjached to the top rim 62 whichisfll achedtoythecylin- ,dricalshell63. \The'band 64 is attachedtdthe outside, of the said shellfl itol'supportathe same-v1;

in the proper verticalrelation to .the said shell on 30. The fan 65 draws air through; the apparatus I lengthened byvanaincrease and shortened by a Plh fi fi1 'p gih art r y o a "used. Theye'rtical position: of the said. clamp and isciriven by the {motor ,66 which is'bolted to w the bar GLwhich is attached tothezsh elf braclgetsr 68, 'whichgare supported. on ,andinsulated .from. the said'shelf brackets. 68 byimeans oi the rubber insulators S,"which;arevulcanized to .the.;,b0lts-q and areheld'in place by the nuts -|l.-. Electric current is supplied to'ithe motorgby means Of-1 the;

raised bottom 14; the waste pipe lithrough which the waste hygroscopic solution flowsinto thelower portion of the. tube 16.,holding thehydrometer 'tions asshown by the arrows, and into the tankfs.v 1

l0, having the overflow and waste pipe 8 I: The

said plates]! have'one edge turned upand one,

edge turned down,: andthe lattehnotchd so as 4 to: break up the. surfacetens'ion oi the "solution A u and causejit to drip in, a. series oi. small streams so as to be evenly distributedgoveriithe surface;

'A 'portion' orrallv of the wastejsolution is recirculated over: a portion of this same route by means 01' the pump 82iand thepipe, asshown by'the-arrows. 'I'hesaid-pump is driven bp;

the shaft 84,; held .in place 'by,,.the torque tube 85,"driven by the motor "88,;Vwhich; is-supported, by the standard 81. Electric .currentijs supplied, tothe said motor 86 by the wires-88 and 85.; Their said standard 8,! also supports the compensatingz I U thermostatic element 90 by means'of the guides;

9|. which allowxvertical movement of thesaid thermostatic elementllI-and which are rigidly; attached to the said standard 81 by the bolts 82 g- The vertical position of the saidthermostatic ele-e ment 90 1s determined by thejclamp 83 which is held in place againstthe-said standardlls by" means of the set screw 94.? The method of;positioning this clamp Biz-will beQeXplained-later. g The upper end of the, said. thermostatic element Slcarriesthe lever 95; whihis-balanbdon the: pivot 96, and which carries the'said hydrorneter 1.1 by means of the clamp 91,-held in place by;

: y r ditionslof-vaporpressure with that-of the 818 1 the bolt Bland allowed free; motion on the saidj current throughthe "wires J3. and III I is blowniacrossthe said plates 19 andthejsaid-com pensating thermostatic. element ,by. means oi the fan I 02,- -driven by the motor I03; supported by the stan'dard llll and-supplied with electric current through therwires I 05 and *IQB.;- The,elec-;

trlc r nt forall-of the motors-is controlledby; the switch 101. 5 7 l a l.

lever-l5 by meansisoi the pivot 99. The;oppo

site and ofthe said lever '85 carriesthe mercuryj tube switch "I00, whichis supplied; with electric if H the -change i'nfdensity of 'the=wa'ste hygroscopic a ;-s olution, .necessaryto produce the same-relative humidity atthegsame deflnitechange in ,tem- -peraturea ;gThisslength will-vary'with the scale 93" onithe-standardSL-should besuch that when the hydrometer TI is placed I with the predeter mined 'reading,-corresponding to the desired temp perature and relative humidity, at the surface of the solution correspondingito the line;of .the overflow-in; the tube w li liwith-w the" end {of 1 the lever 95 attached to the hydrometer: TI .bymeans; .of' the clampls l theflclamp 93 1$hOu1dLbe fastened to thestandardlflatya height soi that the ieft rendoi'the mercurytube switch will be tilted! downward sumciently' to cause. the mercury'l'in the tube lflfl torflow vto the left endo! the ,tube' I 00 I and awayrfrorn the ends of the wires 13' and HM;'thereby'fbreakinglithe "circuit through the] wires, 12 and I3 and stQPD ng-themotor 6i and: the fan '65, which I idraws; air through .the' a'p As air isf-drawnithroughithelapparatus, first" I in contact with a hygroscopic solution 'andln'ext r 1' in contact withahygroscopic solid, moisture (will move from the airtothesaid hygroscopic soluivv-tion and: hysroscopic; so1i d, due to, a difference;v

inrvaporpressure until equilibrium conditions are I; reached and in a pr'operly designed air "dehy "drator. containing hygroscopic solution andh'avi ing-sufllcientsolution in contact with...theairpthewastesolution; have avaporpressure in -eguilibri um;,,-oonditions with that" of the entering I air, which is equivalent to'a definite density a'nd P specific gravity Jor any fixed; Qten' perature, and

alsoia definite yrelati ve humidity or the. air-enj the air; dehydrator L at the same fixed a perature.g;:--f-" A hygroscopicsolutionzrecirculated in a our- 1,.- rent of airewillabsorb .or give. "of! moisture so that its zvapor 1 pressure will ejventualli 1 reach equilibrium conditionswith thatoi the air. The} vaporpressures, densitiesor specific gravitiesL and concentrations of hygroscopic sol ds dissolved in water arejin definite relations' toi eachfother. at any'flxed temperature, and the-vapor pressure of air in relation toaflx'edtemperature is, also;

a measure of relative humidity.

' The following ftablejshows.thelspeciflc gravity:

of calcium chloridesolutibns in equilibrium contivehumidi ty otthe ainatf the same temperature.

v v 1 1 a: 1 The;verticalposit onof ahydrometerrises with; The thermostatic elemental! canflbe xnade 01. a,"

an increase oi the, density gland lowers "with decrease in thedensity of the solution in which the. said hydrometer floats.- i The densityfof'the' said solution and the degree-of; concentration oil dissolved solids in the solution increases slightly Q with increasing temperature and decreases slightly'withdecreasingtemperature toimaintain' a vapor pressure in equilibrium with that of airat a constant relativehumidity at variable temperatures. By compensating tortemperature changes by meanscof' a. thermostatic elementwhich acts a of the invention in order;

inversely: to a hydrometer with an increasejor.

decrease in temperature,- the -.comb ination oi a hydrometer, actuated by the density of a'h$"r groscopic solution inequilibrium conc'litio ns of",,

. vapor pressure with'that of the=sufrounding air,

and a compensating thermostatic element,- ac: tuated by the temperature-of the surrounding air,

can be used to measure relative humidityand'fto.

control apparatus for "the regulation of relative humidity of air. The specific gravitiesof calcium chloride solution concentrations at various ternperatures can be found insthe technical handbooks. f

Greater concentrations of calcium chloride are required at increasin temperatures to produce the same relative humiditypf :air, also, from reference to handbooks, it is noted that the specific density of calcium chloride. solutions decreases with temperature for the same degree of concentration, and that both of these factors can be compensated for by the thermostatic element operating inversely to thehydrometric element.

The operation of the apparatus is as f ollowsz" the spaces 32 are filled with granulated or'flake calcium chloride, the hydrometric clamp 91 and the thermostatic clamp '93 are set according to It is to understood thatlminor changes 'canf' '1 be made in the general arrangement"anddetail "i adapt it tdmodern v iieaja ji other hygro copic (materials, such as "magnesium l chloride an'd soda' lime," can also beused as the s industrial an commercial.

1. Ajportable sectional cabinet fordehydration of aircompri'sing a plurality of self-contained changeable operating units superimposed one abov i ihqlbther to collectively deflne a vertical. conduit forlthe passage of air, said units includ ing a base unit in the form of a receptacle to re ceive by gravity flow Waste hygroscopic solution,

a plate unit above said base unit and having an C interior structure over whichthe hygroscopic solution flows, air inlet openings defined in the wall of said plate unit to admit air to flow over said interior structure, a container unit above said plate unit for the solid hygroscopic material, said container unit being opened at the. top and bottom and having as its interior structure, a cellular container of openwork side walls delining a plurality of adjacent vertical air passages and storage compartments for said solid material, and an upper unit having means for drawing air-upwardly through said cabinet.

the instructions previously given, the switch I01 is closed and which supplies electric current through the wires l2, 13, NH, 88 and 8 9' to the motor 86, driving the pump 82, to recirculate the hygroscopic solution, and through the wires 105 and I06 to the motor I03, driving the'fan I02 to blow air in contact with thevcompensating thermostatic element 90 and in contact with the recirculated waste hygroscopicsolution flowing over the plates '19 and which, on a rising relative humidity, caused'by an increase in the vapor pressure of the air and a corresponding decrease causes the hydrometer 1! to lower sufficiently to tilt the lever 95 and the mercury tube switch I00 in the density of the recirculated waste solution,

so that the mercury flows totheright in contact withand connecting the wires 13' and HH and completing a circuit through the wires" and 13' thereby starting the motor 66 .whichdrives-the fan 65, which draws air into the cabinet through the air inlet openings 43, between and over'the plates 44 to 50, inclusive, in contact with the hygroscopic solution in the air dehydrator containing hygroscopic solution, up through the air passages 3 I, in contact with the hygroscopic solid 2. A portable sectional cabinet for dehydration of air comprising a plurality of self-contained changeable operating units superimposed one above the other to collectively define a vertical conduit for the upward passage of air and the downward fiowof hygroscopic solution, said operating unit being cylindrical with their adjacent ends in' sealed relation .and including a base unit to receive waste hygroscopic solution, a plate 7 unit above said base unit having an interior 7 structure for spreading said solution in the air.

flow as' the solution flows toward said base unit, horizontal air inlets in said plate unit for admitting air to pass over said interior structure,

a container unit above said plate unit, said container unit having a cellular openwork interior structure to receive. solid hygroscopic material anddefining vertical air passages, and a top unit located above said container unitand having means for drawing air upward through said cabinet and discharging it therefrom;

33 in the spaces 32 of the air dehydrator containing hygroscopic solid, and discharged through the top outlet grille until the desired relative humidity is reached for theair surrounding and entering the cabinet, at which time the hydrometer 11 rises in the tube 16 due to a lowered vapor pressure of the surrounding air and a correspond-1 ing increase in the density of the recirculated hygroscopic solution, which tilts the lever 95 and the mercury tube switch I 00 so that the mercury flows to the left and awayfrom theends of the wires 13 and Ifll, thereby breaking the electric circuit in the wires 12 and I3 and stopping the motor 66 which drives the fan and which 3. Air conditioning apparatus comprising a first section openat the top and having a rack at the bottom, agroup of baskets with open tops vand perforated sides and bottoms for holding hygroscopic solid material supported upon said rack, said baskets beingspaced to define air passages, a second section below said first section havinghorizontal air inlets in thesides and a vertical series of horizontal plates with openings (in the said plates staggered over each other, to ,allow .hygroscopic solution; dripping from the ,saidhygroscopic solid material, to flow downward, through, and between the said plates,1in a counter flow direction of air and solution when the vertical axis of the apparatus is tilted in any direction, a third section positioned below the said second section for collecting the waste hygroscopio solution, and a fourth section, super- ;draws air through the cabinet in contact with a the liygroscopic jsolution and theyhygroscopic 'solid. j The apparatuswill functiori without the "recirculated'solution and the separate airflow except under' 'conditions of low humidityandin 4 'termittent operation when'the solution may cease I to remain a liquid dueto-crystalliaation orfaccumulationofjimpurities.

first cylindrical sectiori open-fitjthe mpgmm 'iofl the saidmrstcylindrical container iiwlth 4. Air conditioning appa irdii fi rackwat the bottom, U a. -gr6upfof baskets portei'on said'gackiwigh qbghf tobsjaxid pei f I V fdr'ated sides and bottoqisjfor:holdirighyflpscdplc 1 solid material, said basketsf being, spaced to' d ci'lindrial se'cuph, sldiifig'i'away from t e s'mgs'. 

